Indicator or detector for lubricating systems.



A. A. NELSON. INDICATOR 0R DETECTOR FOR LUBRIGATING SYSTEMS.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 9, 1913.

1,114,696. 20 Patented 0ct.20,1914.

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um/Mom ILA. Nelson, wi tweooco PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR A. NELSON, OF IOWA CITY, IOWA.

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Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed July 9, 1a1a. Serial so. Waite.

To all whom it may concern Be it known-that I, ARTHUR A. NELSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Iowa City, in the county of J ohnson and State-of-Iowa, have invented new and use-- ful Improvements inlndicators or Detectors for Lubricating Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in indicators or detectors for lubricating systerns and has particular application to a de vice of the class described for use in conjunction with the oilireservoirs of internal combustion engines.

In carrying out the present invention, it is my purpose to provide an indicator or detector whereby when the oil within the oil reservoir or tank has fallen below a predetermined level, the magneto or other source of current for the ignition system of the engine will be shortcircuited so as to bring the engine to a standstill and thereby prevent burning out of the bearings dependent upon the lubricating system.

It is also my purpose to provide a detector or indicator of the float controlled type which,will embrace the desired features of simplicity, efiiciency and durability and which may be readily-installed and wherein the =comp0nent parts will be so arranged and correlated as to reduce the possibility ofderangement' to a minimum.

With-the above and other objects, in View, the invention consists in the construction, combination and-arrangement of parts here inafter set forth in and falling within the sco e-of" the claims.

n the accompanying drawing-z Figure 1 is a.- diagramma-tic view ,showing my im-.

proved indicator or detector installed. Fig.

'2 is a vertical sectional view through the detector, and Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the accompanying drawingin detail,- the numeral .1 designates an appropriate form of internal combustion ,en

ine,-while 2 indicates a source of current or the ignition system of such engine, such source being shown in the present instance as a magneto. 3 designates the oil reservoir or tank for the engine, such reservoir being connected with the crank case, cylinders and other parts of the engine to be lubricated by means of conduits or pipes 4 as is well understood by those skilled in the art.

In accordance with my present invention,

31- employadetector or indicator whichis in .openxcommunication with the oil tank or rreservoir andpreferably of the float con- .trolled type. and which acts, when the oil within: the reservoir has fallenbelow a predetermined level, to shortlcircuit the magneto and so deenergizethe. sparkplugs of athe enginewhereby the latter is brought to an-immediate stop thereby notifying.- the operator of the condition ofthe oiling system. This detector or indicator comprises azcylindrical shell 5 having. the lowerend thereof: closedthrough the medium of :a. cap Gth-readedlyen aging the same and the upper end closed t rough the mediumiof a cap 7 threaded thereon,-the ca 6 carrying a pet cock 7 by means of whic the shell 5 may be. drained. Opening into the shell..5 adj acent .to.the lower. end thereof'is atube 8 threadedlyengaging an aperture formed;in the oil reservoir or tank 3 immediately adjjacent to the bottom wall thereof and" slidably mounted within the shell 5 is a float 9 carrying an upwardly projecting vertical stem 10 extending through a nipple 11 formed on the cap 7 approximately centrally thereof and threaded exteriorly to receive a fiber disk 12. Suitably connected to the upper surfaceofthe fiber disk 12 and spaced apart are concentrically disposed metallic rings 13, 13 and slidably mounted uponthe upper end of the stem 10 is a collar 1& equippedzwith a setscrew 15 whereby the oollarmaybe held on the stem in any ,desired adjusted position. Formed integral with the collar 14 and extendin toutwardly thereof: is :affinger, 16 having t e free end thereof :formed with a depending bridging stripzll adapted when at its limit of downward: movement .to' bridge the rings 13,. The outemring 13 isformed with a radially projecting lug 18 oquippedwithea binding post 19.-to which is connectedione terminal of a wire 20, the free terminal of such wire beingconnected in circuit with the magneto. Thennner ring 13 is in contact with the nipple 11 onthe cap 7 and as a result is grounded upon the engine through the medium of the shell 5, the reservoir and the conduits connecting the reservoir with the engine, the magneto being also grounded upon the engine as is well known. Secured to the marginal edge of the disk 12 is a ca 21 inclosing the rings 13, 13, the arm 16 and the upper end of the stem 10.

From the foregoing description taken in Patented Oct. 20, 1914. v

connection with the accompanying drawing, the construction, mode of operation and manner of employing my invention will be readily apparent. In practice, the oil reservoir is filled with a lubricant and such lubricant enters the shell 5 by way of the tube 8. As the oil enters the shell, the float 9 moves upwardly thereby elevating the stem and disengaging the bridging strip 17 from the rings l3, 13. As the upper end of the stem 10 engages the top of the cap 21 further upward movement of the float is eliminated and the latter held at its limit of ujJWEll'll movement under the action of the oil nithin the reservoir or tank. Asshining the engine to be operating and the oil within the oil reservoir exhausted, the .lioat will drop and the bridging strip 1? bridge the rin s l8, 15 with the elfect to ground the magneto on the engine thereby short circuiting the spark plugs or other igniting devices and bringing the engine to a standstill. Thus, the operator of the vehicle in which the engine is installed Will be notified as to the condition of the oiling system.

By means of the adjustable connection between the finger l6 and the stem 10, it will be seen that the detector may be adjusted so as to operate when the oil Within the reservoir has fallen to any desired level.

While I have herein shown and described one preferred form of my invention by way of illustration, I desire to have it understood that I do not limit or confine myself to the precise details of construction herein described and delineated, as modification and variation may be made Within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

l. A detector for oil reservoirs comprising a vertical tube connected adjacent to its lower end with the reservoir, a cap closing the upper end of said tube and formed with an upwardly extending nipple centrally thereof, an insulating disk secured to said nipple, a pair of rings carried by said disk and disposed concentrically of each other, a strip adapted to bridge said rings, a float within said tube and under the control of.

the oil within the reservoir, and a stem-connccted to said float and projecting outwardly of the nipple on said cap and connected with said strip whereby the latter will engage said rings when the oil within the reservoir has fallen below a predetermined level.

2. A detector for oil reservoirs comprising a vertical tube connected adjacent to its lower end with the reservoir, a cap closing the upper end of said tube and formed with an upwardly extending nipple centrally thereof, an insulating disk secured to said nipple, a pair of rings carried by said disk and disposedconcentrically of each other, a strip adapted to bridge said rings, a float within said tube and under the control of the oil within the reservoir, a stem connected to said float and projecting outwardly of the nipple on said cap and connected with said strip whereby the latter will engage said rings when the oil Within the reservoir has fallen below a predetermined level, and means for adjusting the connection between said strip and stem.

3. A detector for oil reservoirs comprising a vertical tube connected adjacent to its lower end with the reservoir, a cap closing the upper end of said tube and formed with an upwardly extending nipple centrally thereof, an insulating disk secured to said nipple, a pair of rings carried by said disk and disposed concentrically of each other, a strip adapted to bridge said rings, a float within said tube and under the control of the oil within the reservoir, a stem connected to said float and projecting outwardly of the nipple on said cap and connected with said strip whereby the latterwill engage said rings when the oil Within the reservoir has fallen below a predetermined level, means for adjusting the connection between said strip and stem, and a cap secured to the marginal edges of said disk and inclosing said rings and bridging strip.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR A. NELSON.

Witnesses:

E. L. MICHAEL, A. J. BASCUNAGEL. 

